Our Deliverers chearacter interviewseries continues with the last of the Deliverers, Hallo Tosis the dwarf. Let'sget right to it.

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Greg:  Welcome, Hallo, to The DeliverersPublishing Headquarters. It’s great to have you here.

Hallo: Thank’ee, thank’ee it’s great t’ be here, too. But, from what theothers said, I thought it’d be more fancy-like, don’t ya know.

Greg: Umm, how do you mean?

Hallo:  Oh, well, er, they said this were amagnificent showpiece an’ all. But t’ tell ya the truth, an’ I really don’tknow how t’ tell ya this an’ all, but this here’s a real dump, don’t ya know.‘T ain’t so much to it. They said the corridors went on f’ever an’ that therewas fancy furniture an’ paintin’s an’ such, but I ain’t seen none o’ themthings.

Greg: Hallo,it’s a joke.

Hallo: A which?

Greg:  Ajoke. A running gag. We’ve been doing it throughout the interview series.Didn’t the others tell you?

Hallo:  Wha’? Oh, er, um, sorry‘bout that. Come t’ think on it, now that ya mention it, they did say somethin’‘bout gaggin’. It come t’ mind ‘cause I felt like gaggin’ when I come in, don’tya know. Sorry I spoilt the joke, sonny.

Greg:  Oh, don’t worry about it, Hallo. Let’sjust get on with the interview, shall we?

Hallo:  You go it, mister. Let’s get this show on theroad, don’t ya know.

Greg:  Alrighty, then. Why don’t you tell us alittle bit about yourself, Hallo?

Hallo:  Well, let’s see. You’reprob’ly wonderin’ ‘bout m’ name. Hallo Tosis ain’t such a hot name. It weregiven t’ me by m’ pappy, Jeremiah Tosis. He has a cuttin’ sense o’ humor, an’he thought it funny t’ give me such a stinky name.

I was borned in the Dwarf Kingdom. I come from a long lineof smithys. Some o’ m’ ancestors was silversmithys, some were goldsmithys. Somewere sculptors, artisans, an’ some was tunnelers, don’t ya know. M’ pappy isthe Royal Goldsmithy, the official goldsmithy t’ the king, a right importantposition.

On the other hand, I don’t have none o’ them skills. I’mthe only one o’ m’ folk without the Gift, as we call it. M’ pappy were rightfed up w’ me. In fact, he had me banished. So, I took t’ wanderin’ in themountains, not bein’ able t’ go home an’ afraid t’ be found out by the BigFolk.

Then, I met Eric, Stig ‘n’ Kate, an’ m’ life took a turnfor the better, don’t ya know.

Greg:  What’s the Dwarf Kingdom like?

Hallo:  It’s a place o’ unsurpassed beauty, don’t yaknow. It’s located under the Iron Mountains, not too far from Calendria. Thereare many villages in the Kingdom, an’ everyone lives in comfort, like. I suremissed livin’ there.

The art were stupendous. There arecarvin’s and reliefs cut inta the walls. Gold an’ jewel inlaid statues line thestreets. The villages bustle with activity in the marketplaces an’ forges. I’mproud that I’m from the Kingdom.

Greg:  What are your thoughts about the rest ofthe Deliverers?

Hallo:  I can’t say enough about ‘em. Without them,I don’t rightly know where I’d be. Eric’s been through a lot, an’ he’s a goodlad. He had a big load on his shoulders, an’ I’m glad I could help him out alittle, don’t ya know.

Now Stig, he’s a crusty ol’ birdie, but he means well. Ijust wish he’d loosen up a wee bit, don’t ya know. He’s the one what’s donethis all before, so he helped keep us all focused on the task at hand.

Kate, she’s a grand lass.  I’m glad t’ have heran’ her folk for neighbors. Her pappy, the Lord Mayor is all right, too. Katehelped keep us all together, kept us from gettin’ on each other’s nerves.

I think we all work well t’gether, don’t ya know, an’ I’mhopin’ we’ll get t’ work t’gether in the future.

Greg:  What do you like to do in your spare time?

Hallo:  Well, I have a new job now, an’ that keepsme pretty busy, don’t ya know. When I’m off duty, I still try m’ hand at metalworkin’. I still ain’t improved none. I also like t’ go down t’ Calendria t’see Kate an’ her pappy. I also chew the fat with Cordon, thevillage  blacksmithy, talkin’ shop. Me an’ the apothecary, Mrs.Bubblebeak, I mean Madame Bottleneck, have also become thick as thieves. I goover for a chat now an’ again.

Part o’ me, though, is waitin’ t’ go on another Assignment.I think one day, I’ll be called t’ go on one. I’m interested t’ meet theGatekeeper. When that happens, I’ll be ready t’ go on another great adventure.

Greg:  Why do you think that dwarves lovetreasure so much?

Hallo:  Well now, it’s so beautiful. It’s thegreatest feeling t’ take gold an’ jewels an’ make them inta somethin’ even morebreathtakin’ than what ya started with. Treasurer’s why we dig. It’s our wholepurpose—t’ find it an’ mold it.

Greg:  Speaking of treasure, what can you tell usabout the Jewel?

Hallo: Beggin’ your pardon, there ain’t much I can say ‘bout it. It’s ouroldest legend an’ our deepest secret. Suffice it t’ say that the Jewel o’Paradise is a jewel beyond price, an’ it lies on the other side o’ the IronMountains. But it’s guarded by fierce beasts. None what’s gone after the Jewelhas ever got back alive. You kin learn all ya need t’ know  ‘bout itin the book, don’t ya know.

Greg:  How has the release of this book changedyour life?

Hallo:  Well, it’s exposed a lot o’ the secrets o’the Kingdom. That’s been right strange ‘cause we’re private folk who don’t taket’ makin’ our comin’s an’ goin’s public. I almost got in trouble with the kingall over agin over the whole mess. But, since it worked out okay for everyonein the end, the king figured there weren’t no harm in it. So, now I’m a lotfamouser, an’ folk’re recognizin’ me more. Usually when they do, they got goodthings t’ say about the job I done. So it’s been right gratifyin’, don’t ya know.

Greg:  Well thank you, Hallofor taking a few minutes to speak with us. Will you have any trouble findingyour way out?

Hallo:  Are ya daft? The door’s right over there. Itain’t like this place is a palace or anythin’. Oh, er. Uh, yeah, right. I mean,I think I’ll be all right. Us dwarves have a great sense o’ direction. It’lltake a lot more than a few windin’ twistin’ passages for me t’ get lost,although I might have trouble crossin’ the moat, don’t ya know.

Hey, how’s that?

Greg:  Oh, that’s just great. Thanks a lot,Hallo.

Hallo:  How’d ya like the part about the moat? Ithought that one up all on m’own. Right good touch if I do say so m’self!